BAA_-_Final.pdf

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1 Step Broad Agency Announcement with Calls

FA8650-19-S-5004

Overview

NAICS Code: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 (Research and Technology in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology), and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Structural Materials Division, Composites Branch, AFRL/RXCC

Broad Agency Announcement Title: Materials Development and Maturation for Applications in Nuclear Systems (MaDMANS) BAA

Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the Initial Announcement

Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-19-S-5004 (Note this number is changed from the Notice of Contract Action posted on 11 Jul 2019, which was listed under Contract Number: FA8650-20-S-5001) This is a one-step solicitation against which Calls will be released. This BAA will remain open for Calls for a period of sixty (60) months.

Calls (One Step, See the specific Calls for instructions): Over the period of this BAA, Calls may be issued to request proposals for specific research area(s) of interest. Each Call will contain specific requirements and pertinent information.

Proposals submitted in response to the Calls will be accepted as specified in the individual Calls and evaluated in accordance with the Proposal Review Information contained within this BAA. Offerors should monitor the Federal Business Opportunities website at http://www.fbo.gov in the event this announcement is amended or Calls are issued.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): N/A

Proposal Due Date and Time: As this is a 1-Step BAA with Calls, proposal due dates and times will be specified in each Call to this solicitation.

NOTE: Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). It should be noted that this installation observes strict security procedures to enter the facility. These security procedures are NOT considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals received after the date and time stated in the applicable Call as a result of security delays will be considered “late.” Furthermore, note that if offerors utilize commercial carriers in the delivery of proposals, they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Be advised, if the U.S. Postal Service is used, this building only receives U.S. Postal Mail twice a week and delivery by that means may not meet the proposal due date and time. Early proposal submission is encouraged.

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Submission: Proposals must be submitted to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC): The POC will be provided in each call.

Solicitation Request: Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RX – Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Structural Materials Division (AFRL/RXC), Wright Patterson Air Force Base will solicit technical and cost proposals for requirements identified in Calls to this BAA.

Annual Updates: It is noted that for the ease of reference this BAA will be republished at yearly intervals.

Type of Contract/Instrument: The Air Force reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. Accordingly, the Government may award any appropriate contract type under the FAR. It is anticipated that awards under this BAA will generally be “C” type contracts that are either Cost Plus Fixed Fee or Firm Fixed Price. Note: Cost reimbursement contracts require successful offerors to have an accounting system considered adequate for tracking costs applicable to the contract.)

Estimated Program Cost: $8,935,000 - Detailed estimated cost or funding profiles will be included in the individual Calls.

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates awarding multiple awards for this announcement. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one, or more contracts for all, some or none of the solicited effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform desired work and funding fluctuations.

Brief Program Summary: AFRL/RXCC is looking to produce low cost, light weight High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) hardened facility construction materials and evaluate and/or develop new next generation reentry vehicle (RV) Thermal Protection System (TPS)/Aeroshell materials that are lighter weight and with integrated radiation shielding. Facility construction materials may include HEMP hardened concrete, environmentally resilient concrete and structural wall panels that meet or exceed MIL-STD 188-125, MIL-STD 2169 and other requirements as mandated by COCOM/MAJCOM. The successful contractor will ensure that the materials are properly studied for aging and evaluation for installation in DoD facilities that meet COCOM/MAJCOM requirements.

Communication Between Prospective Offerors and Government Representatives:

Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged until submission of proposals. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Address technical questions to the Technical POC: For the overall BAA the Technical POC is Ms. Brittany Campbell, AFRL/RXCC, 2941 Hobson Way, Wright-

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Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7750, brittany.campbell.4@us.af.mil, (937) 255-8205 or alternatively Mr. Eric Becker, eric.becker@us.af.mil, (937) 255-9818. A Technical POC for each Call will be stated in the individual Calls.

Address contracting questions to the Contracting POC: For the overall BAA the Contracting POC is Michelle M. Arostegui, AFRL/RQKMC, Bldg 45, 2130 8th St., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7541, michelle.arostegui@us.af.mil, (937) 713- 9889, or alternatively Mary Ann Sharits, AFRL/RXKMC, 2130 8th Street, WPAFB, OH 45433, mary.sharits@us.af.mil, 937-713-9898. A Contracting POC for each Call will be stated in the individual Calls.

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Full Text Announcement

I. Program Description: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and

Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL/RX, will be issuing Calls for unclassified technical and cost proposals on the following research effort:

1. Statement of Objective/Description of Technical Area(s):

The US Air Force needs to be able to respond to any threat at the CONUS or OCONUS level as needed. Support infrastructure must be able to operate before, during, and after any sort of attack on the surrounding area. Such demands sets up a need for facilities with strong structural foundations that have radiation and electromagnetic (EM) protections. Past efforts have focused on these issues separately, building support facilities and then hardening them against additional threats. One of the main areas of shielding for these facilities is against shock wave propagation and electromagnetic pulse (EMP), specifically high altitude EMP (HEMP). Once the facility is constructed, large steel panels are installed within the walls to provide the HEMP protection needed to maintain electronic operations and communications following a HEMP event. These steel panel installations are expensive to put in-place due to requirements for specialized welding technicians and design of specialized entry points between the steel enclosure to tie-in to the concrete facility (access of electrical systems, pipes for fluids, doorways, etc.). Maintenance of these systems is also difficult due to corrosion issues, hidden damage to internal or external structures, and difficult EM testing that many operators do not understand how to perform.

The goal of this work is to provide an “all in one” solution with HEMP hardened facilities. Work in the following areas is being requested:

Creating new, survivable support ground facilities Retrofit efforts for survivable support ground facilities Retrofit efforts with increased capabilities RV materials for testing and screening

The nuclear power industry has spent years creating strong, radiation resistant, “EM protective” concretes that can be leveraged with previous work to create a highly shielded, structurally sound solution. Such solutions would remove the need for multi-step construction and the additional high costs associated with installing steel structures. These concretes can be made with noncorrosive materials to remove the environmental degradation problem and no coupling of penetrations through multiple materials. Additionally by only having to scan a single material, EM testing can be simplified to help support operator maintenance of shielding facilities.

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When new construction is not an option for support infrastructure, low cost high shielding retrofit options are needed. These options need to integrate into the existing, highly variable, multi-use facilities with as little disruption as possible. If these materials can also extend the capabilities of the support structure, all the better. To accomplish such a mission panelized HEMP/EM shielding materials are being developed. These materials will have the capability to increase the HEMP shielding of a formerly shielded or unshielded facility to MIL STD and also provide additional sound barrier options for extended usage respective to security measures. This creates an additional facility capability without having to modify the current structural facility;

meaning that outside organizations do not need to get involved in the space modifications other than for certification of the additional capability requirements.

Manufacturing readiness is primarily focused on improving the understanding and control of processes associated with the construction of support infrastructure. Depending on the construction method selected, the overall performance of these materials and components is highly sensitive to variations inherent in the construction steps required for manufacture

The application of an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework with processing data and material properties to predict material behavior or lifing is desired to enhance materials optimization and performance prediction during design. Demonstration of this ICME framework is highly recommended.

All materials should have the ability to be scalable and suitable for mass production. All models should be readily integratable into an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industrial design system. This solicitation seeks to help provide the M&P, manufacturing readiness and life modeling knowledge base that is necessary for system designers to make informed decisions.

In support of the strike systems survivability, the systems need to have radiation protection, thermal protection, structural integrity, and EM spectrum fidelity on the external structures. As new strike capabilities are brought online and old systems are reinvigorated, deficiencies in the materials capabilities and availabilities could be identified. Such deficiencies need to first be fully characterized to understand where additional S&T efforts are needed. This program will screen materials developed under other programs (hypersonics, rocket engine materials, etc.) to survive the environment anticipated for reentry vehicle (RV) and air launched strike capabilities. These materials can be assessed in ground test facilities to determine viability in nuclear strike capacities to determine where materials S&T efforts should be placed.

This program impacts a number of stakeholders, focused on USAF needs, with emphasis on creating survivable systems. First development will be on a

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HEMP shielded concrete that can be used for new support system infrastructure with lessons learned from this initial effort feeding an HEMP shielded, environmentally resistant concrete development in a second stage.

This thrust focuses on creating new, survivable support ground facilities. This thrust will mainly focus on inputs from end users for requirements, performance parameters, and integration needs. Concurrent with this first thrust, the retrofit efforts with increased capabilities, will focus on creating nondescript paneled shielding options for internal structures. Inputs for enhanced capabilities will be focused with panel design and shielding capabilities coming from the user. The third thrust for this program, RV materials testing and screening, will focus on enhanced ground based testing and possible flight testing of outer mould line thermal protection systems or structural composite shells developed under other RXC program efforts.

These materials, developed with inputs from other stakeholders, need to be assessed by other program office stakeholders. These materials will determine what efforts need to be taken next to maintain and increase capabilities for the USAF systems. Developing new RV materials will likely require a follow-on program. There is no intention to meet all three thrusts in all Calls to this BAA.

2. Within Scope Modifications: Potential offerors are advised that due to the inherent uncertainty of research and development efforts, awards resulting from this announcement may be modified during performance to make within scope changes, to include but not limited to, modifications which increase overall contract ceiling amount.

3. Deliverable Items:

a. Data Items: Applicable Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRL) requirements will be identified in each Call for proposals. Addition, elimination, or modification of CDRLs may be suggested by the offeror in their proposal. The possible Data Item Description (DID) for the above listed items are as follows:

i. A001 Final Report End of Tech Effort

ii. A002 Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report Mthly

iii. A003 Spend Plan Mthly

iv. A004 Contract Funds Status Report Qrtly

v. A005 Status Report Mthly

vi. A006 Presentation Material As Req

vii. A007 Material and Processing Digital Data Package As Gen

b. Hardware: Hardware deliverables to be determined based on proposal, if applicable.

c. Other: To be determined for each award.

4. Schedule:

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a. Overall effort: This BAA will remain open for calls for a period of sixty (60) months. Each award is not anticipated to exceed 27 months (24 months technical effort and 3 months reporting). However, period of performance will be considered for each award.

b. Data Items: Specified on individual CDRL(s)

c. Hardware: Hardware deliverables may be required. If applicable, hardware shall be delivered within thirty (30) days after completion of technical effort or as specified for each award.

5. Other Requirements:

a. This announcement incorporates FAR and supplement provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses can be found at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/

b. Program security classification: It is anticipated that most of the awards made will not require a security clearance at first, but the ability to obtain a Secret level clearance for individuals and business location may be required for final testing of materials. See draft DD254, Attachment 4 for additional information. -- If a DD254 is applicable, Offerors must verify their Cognizant Security Office information is current with Defense Security Service (DSS) at www.dss.mil.

c. TEMPEST requirements: While TEMPEST requirements are not expected on contracts awarded, it is possible that they will be needed at the end of the contracted effort. Due to overlap in TEMPEST and HEMP requirements, being able to provide materials for TEMPEST testing may be requested.

d. OPSEC: OPSEC guidance will be provided on the individual SOO’s.

e. Export Control: Information involved in this research effort may be subject to Export Control (International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR 120-131, or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 CFR 710- 774). If effort may be subject to export control, then a Certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, will be required to be submitted with proposal.

f. Export-Controlled Items: As prescribed by DFARS 225.7901-4, DFARS 252.225-7048, “Export-Controlled Item (JUN 2013)” is contained in this solicitation. This clause shall be contained in ALL resulting contracts.

g. Data Management Plan: The contractor shall submit a Data Management Plan with this proposal. The Data Management Plan shall be submitted as a stand-alone document. The plan shall be no more than 3 pages, and follow the page limitations established for the technical/management proposal (see Section IV.2.b). Effective data management increases the pace of scientific discovery and engineering development and promotes more efficient and effective use of government funding and resources.

Formal data management planning should therefore be an integral part of the research and development process. The Data Management Plan should document the management of the technical data to be used or created in the course of this proposed effort, identifying which technical

FA8650-19-S-5004 - Page 8 of 22 data are considered necessary to validate the findings of the proposed effort. The Data Management Plan shall contain the following information:

- A listing and discussion of the types of digital technical data to be used and/or created during the course of the project to include how the data is to be acquired, digitally processed, methods for quantification of uncertainty, and the standards to be used for data and metadata capture (Existing, accepted community standards should be used where possible.

Provided metadata should be sufficient to enable someone else to reproduce the data.);

- The file formats and file naming conventions to be used (enduring, non-proprietary, human and machine (readable format and content, self-describing formats are strongly preferred);

- Whenever possible, a description of the specific data schemata to be used;

- Plans and criteria for delivering and/or archiving datasets, or data samples, and other digitally formatted technical data, and for preservation of access thereto;

- Identification of applicable access, security, and export control restrictions and controls;

- A schedule for review and update of the Data Management Plan;

- If, for legitimate reasons, the technical data cannot be preserved digitally, the plan shall include a justification citing such reasons.

Technical Data (as defied in the DFARS): Recorded information, regardless of the form or method of the recording, of a scientific or technical nature, (including computer software documentation). The term does not include computer software or data incidental to contract administration, such as financial and/or management information.

6. Other Information:

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP) is not anticipated to be made available under any resulting contract. If GFP becomes applicable, in accordance with FAR 45.201(b), the contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs. However, if GFP becomes applicable, it will be identified in the Call for proposals for each solicitation topic.

b. Base Support / Network Access and Base Facilities are anticipated to be made available under any resulting contract and if applicable will be identified in each Call.

c. Multiple awards subject to Fair Opportunity are not anticipated.

d. Data Rights Desired:

(1) Technical Data: Unlimited Rights

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(2) Non-Commercial Computer Software (NCS): Unlimited Rights

(3) NCS Documentation: Unlimited Rights

(4) Commercial Computer Software Rights: Customary License

The Air Force Research Laboratory is engaged in the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. As such, rights in technical data and NCS developed or delivered under this contract are of significant concern to the Government. The Government will therefore evaluate any restrictions on the use of technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation which could result in transition difficulty or less-than full and open competition for subsequent development of this technology.

In exchange for paying for development of the data, the Government expects technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed entirely at Government expense to be delivered with Unlimited Rights.

Technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed with mixed funding are expected to be delivered with at least Government Purpose Rights. Offerors that propose delivery of technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation subject to Government Purpose Rights should fully explain how a portion of the data was developed at private expense. Specifically, offerors must explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a Government contract will be incorporated, how the incorporation will benefit the program, and address whether those portions or processes are segregable.

Offerors that propose delivery of non-commercial technical data with Limited Rights, NCS with Restricted Rights, or NCS documentation with Limited Rights will be considered. Proposals should fully explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a Government contract will be incorporated and how the incorporation will benefit the program and whether those portions or processes are segregable.

Offerors shall include the data rights assertions as required by DFARS 252.227-7017, Identification and Assertion of Restrictions on the Government’s Use, Release, or Disclosure of Technical Data or Computer Software. The assertions list is included in Section K and due at time of proposals. Assertions must be completed with specificity. Each assertion must identify the technical data or computer software to be delivered and the associated item, component, or process developed exclusively or partially at private expense to which it pertains. Nonconforming assertions lists will be rejected.

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Terms used in this section are defined in the clauses at 252.227-7013, Rights in Technical Data-Noncommercial Items, and 252.227-7014, Rights in Noncommercial Computer Software and Noncommercial Computer Software Documentation.

THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE (COMMERCIAL AND NONCOMMERCIAL):

If any such software, noncommercial or commercial, is not reasonably identifiable at proposal submission, it must still be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to incorporation. This obligation to obtain pre-approval by the Contracting Officer, as described above, continues throughout contract administration.

Noncommercial Computer Software:

DFARS 252.227-7014(d) describes requirements for incorporation of third party noncommercial copyrighted computer software and computer software documentation and is incorporated as follows. The Contractor shall not, without the written approval of the Contracting Officer, incorporate any copyrighted computer software or computer software documentation in the software or documentation to be delivered under this contract unless the Contractor is the copyright owner or has obtained for the Government the license rights necessary to perfect a license or licenses in the deliverable software or documentation of the appropriate scope set forth in DFARS 252.227-7014(b), and prior to delivery of such—

(1) Computer software, has provided a statement of the license rights obtained in a form acceptable to the Contracting Officer; or

(2) Computer software documentation, has affixed to the transmittal document a statement of the license rights obtained.

In addition, all noncommercial computer software will receive the appropriate level rights set forth in DFARS 252-7014(b), which could include: Unlimited Rights, GPR, Restricted Rights, or specifically negotiated license.

Commercial Computer Software:

For commercial computer software, the Government will neither accept nor execute a DD Form 250 for such software deliverables until the Contractor obtains from all third party software suppliers and/or vendors (Licensor) licenses for any commercial computer software to be delivered that are consistent with Federal Statutes, Federal Case Law, and Federal Regulations.

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II. Award Information

1. Anticipated Award Date: This is a five (5) year BAA with Calls.

Periodically over the 5 year period, Call announcements may be issued to FedBizOps to request proposals for specific research efforts. As a result, awards are anticipated for each of these calls.

2. Anticipated funding for the program (not per contract) FY19 / $365K; FY20 / $2,295K; FY21 / $2,500K; FY22 / $2,375K; FY23 / $1,400K. Total:

$8,935K. The specific funding anticipated for individual calls will be stated in the Call for proposals for each solicitation topic.

NOTE: This funding profile is an estimate only and not a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Potential offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Offeror: The Calls are anticipated to be unrestricted solicitations.

Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of a Call solicitation.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost Sharing is not required.

3. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal, as either a prime or subcontractor. FAR 35.017-1(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non-FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS 235.017-1(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation. However, the FFRDC’s sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDC’s proposal.

In addition, AFRL must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry.

Only after these determinations are made, would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC’s eligibility to receive an award.

4. Government Agencies: If a Government agency is interested in performing work, contact the Program Manager identified in the BAA. If those discussions result in a mutual interest to pursue your agency's participation, the effort will be pursued independent of this announcement.

5. Other:

a. Foreign participation: No foreign participation is allowed on this effort.

No technologies, data and/or equipment are to be disclosed to foreign

FA8650-19-S-5004 - Page 12 of 22 participants during any phase of the effort. Final testing data will be at the SECRET/NOFORON level.

b. Calls under this BAA may involve data that may be subject to export control laws and regulations. Only contractors who are registered and certified with the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC) and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in this solicitation. Contact the Defense Logistics Services Center, 74 Washington Avenue N., Battle Creek, Michigan 40917-3084 (1-800-352-3572) for further information on the certification process. You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your proposal.

c. There are no limits on the number of proposals an offeror may submit.

d. You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date as identified above.

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

1. Overview: Proposal(s) submitted shall be in accordance with the requirements outlined in this BAA and the specific requirements in each call.

The Government intends to review proposals and award some, all, or none of the proposals received without negotiation/discussion; however, the Government reserves the right to negotiate with those offeror(s) whose proposal is selected for funding.

Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may change proposal requirements or permit extensions to the proposal submission date.

For additional information, a copy of the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry is located at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/Portals/60/documents/afrl/AFRL-broad-agency-announcement-guide.pdf?

2. Content and Form of Proposal Submission: The paragraphs below identify proposal format and content.

a. General Instructions:

i. Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in FAR 52.215- 1(e) Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition. Offerors should consider proposal instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry, which can be accessed on line at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/Portals/60/documents/afrl/AFRL-broad-agency-announcement-guide.pdf.

This guide is specifically designed to assist the offeror in understanding the BAA proposal process.

ii. Technical/management and cost/business volumes should be submitted in separate volumes and must be valid for 180 days.

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iii. Proposals must reference the announcement number FA8650-19-S- 5004 and relevant Call number.

iv. Offerors must submit one-original and three (3) hard copies of their proposals to the Contracting POC.

v. Offerors must include 2 CDs in Microsoft Office or Adobe format containing all electronic versions of required submittals. All electronic versions must match the hard copies. If there is a discrepancy between hard copies and electronic copies, the hard copies will take precedence.

a) The cost file(s) spreadsheets must be in Microsoft Excel and include the formulas for calculating cost element bases (i.e., G&A, O/H, etc.)

b) The CDs should be labeled with the company name and proposal title.

vi. Offerors are advised that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Government.

vii. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this BAA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract; however, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18.

viii. No classified technical proposals or cost volumes are expected.

Offerors are encouraged to keep all elements of the proposal package unclassified. In the rare case where an offeror has a need to submit a classified appendix, please contact the technical POC for delivery instructions.

b. Technical/Management Proposal:

i. Page Limitations: The following describes proposal page limitations:

a) The Technical/Management Proposal shall be limited to 30 pages.

Technical/Management proposals and Statements of Work must be provided in Microsoft Word. Signed pages may be submitted in Adobe.

b) Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial.

c) Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.

d) Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), double sided (each side counts as one page), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom.

e) All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. Font and line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts, drawings, and diagrams. These exceptions shall not be used to circumvent formatting requirements and page count limitations by including lengthy narratives in such items.

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f) Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover page being Page 1, and the last page being no greater than Page 30. The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, attachments, resumes, etc.

g) The proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed Statement of Work (SOW); however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to 10 pages.

h) Please Note: The Government will check the proposal and SOW for conformance to the stated requirements. Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered for review purposes.

ii. The Technical/Management proposal(s) shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach.

Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, use of base support (if desired), data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. This volume shall include a SOW detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Do not include any proprietary information in the SOW. Refer to the BAA Guide for Industry referenced above to assist in SOW preparation. In addition to the contractor proposed SOW, a Government generated SOW attachment containing additional contracting requirements will be included in any resulting contracts. The SOW attachment is included as Attachment 3 to this BAA.

iii. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Contracting POC.

d. Cost/Business Proposal:

i. Separate the proposal into a business section and cost section.

Adequate price competition is anticipated.

a) See Attachment 5 for the Model Contract. Note that the document awarded may include contract line items (CLINs)/clauses/articles in addition to those in the model(s), and/or some of the CLIN/clauses/articles in the model may be deleted, depending on the specific circumstances of the individual award. Any additions or deletions will be negotiated with the offeror prior to award.

b) The business section should contain all business aspects to the proposed contract, such as type of contract, any exceptions to terms and conditions of the announcement including the model contract, FA8650-19-S-5004 - Page 15 of 22 any information not technically related, etc. Provide rationale for exceptions.

c) Associate Contractor Agreements: Associate Contractor Agreements (ACAs) are agreements between contractors working on Government contracts that require them to share information, data, technical knowledge, expertise, or resources. The contracting officer may require ACAs when contractors working on separate Government contracts must cooperate, share resources or otherwise jointly participate in working on contracts or projects. Prime contractor to subcontractor relationships do not constitute ACAs.

For each award, the contracting officer will identify associate contractors with whom agreements are required.

d) Identify any technical data that will be delivered with less than unlimited rights.

e) Subcontracting Plans: For efforts to exceed $700,000, Subcontracting Plans shall be submitted in the cost/business proposal. Reference FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704, and AFFARS 5319.704(a)(1) for subcontracting plan requirements. Small business concerns are exempt from this requirement. If an IDIQ contract arrangement is anticipated, the basis for the subcontracting plan should reflect the entire IDIQ ceiling amount.

f) Limitations on Pass-Through Charges: As prescribed in FAR 15.408(n)(1) & 15.408(n)(2), provisions 52.215-22, “Limitations on Pass Through Charges- Identification of Subcontract Effort (Oct 2009),” apply.

g) Completed Certifications and Representations (Section K) are due with the proposal. Certifications and Representations (Section K) can be found at Atch 6. Offerors may also be required to submit updated or supplemental Certifications and Representations based on the specifics of their proposal.

h) If an offeror proposes the use of Government Furnished Property (GFP), other than GFP identified in the BAA, the offer must specifically identify each piece of GFP in the Cost/Business Proposal and propose and substantiate a rental cost for evaluation purposes in accordance with FAR 45.202. Include the following information in the proposal:

(i) A list describing all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the contracting officer having cognizance of the property);

(ii) The dates during which the property will be used and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

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(iii) The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

(iv) The voluntary consensus standard or industry leading practices and standards to be used in the management of Government property, or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property.

ii Cost Element Breakdown: Clear, concise, and accurate cost proposals reflect the offeror's financial plan for accomplishing the effort contained in the technical proposal. As a part of its cost proposal, the offeror shall submit the information outlined below, together with supporting breakdowns. All direct costs (labor, material, travel, computer, etc.) as well as labor and overhead rates should be provided by contractor fiscal year (CFY). Detailed cost element breakdowns by Government Fiscal Year or calendar year are not required. The supporting schedules may include summary level estimating rationale used to generate the proposed costs. The cost element breakdown(s) should include the following if applicable.

a) Direct Labor: Direct labor should be detailed by number of labor hours by category of labor.

b) Labor and Overhead Rates: Direct labor hours, with their applicable rates, must be broken out and the bases used clearly identified. The source of labor and overhead rates and all pricing factors should be identified. For instance, if a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) is in existence, that should be noted, along with the Administrative Contracting Officer’s (ACO's) name and telephone number. If the rates are based on current experience in your organization, provide the historical base used and clearly identify all escalation, by year, applied to derive the proposed rates. If computer usage is determined by a rate, identify the basis used and rationale used to derive the rate.

c) Material/Equipment: List all material/equipment items by type and kind with associated costs and advise if the costs are based on vendor quotes, data and/or engineering estimates; provide copies of vendor quotes and/or catalog pricing data.

d) Subcontractor Costs: Submit all subcontractor proposals and analyses with your cost proposal (See FAR 15.404-3(b)). If the subcontractor will not submit cost and pricing information to the offeror, this information must be submitted directly to the Government for analysis. On all subcontracts and interdivisional transfers, provide the method of selection used to determine the subcontractor and the proposed contract type of each subcontract.

An explanation shall be provided if the offeror proposes a different amount than that quoted by the subcontractor. The offeror’s proposal must:

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(i) Identify principal items/services to be subcontracted.

(ii) Identify prospective subcontractors and the basis on which they were selected. If non-competitive, provide selected source justification

(iii) Identify the type of contractual business arrangement contemplated for the subcontract and provide rationale

(iv) Identify the basis for the subcontract costs (e.g., firm quote or engineering estimate, etc).

(v) Identify the cost or pricing data submitted by the subcontractor.

(vi) Provide an analysis of the proposed subcontract in accordance with FAR 15.404-3(b). Provide an analysis concerning the reasonableness, realism and completeness of each subcontractor’s proposal. If the analysis is based on comparison with prior prices, identify the basis on which the prior prices were determined to be reasonable. The analysis should include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: materials, labor, travel, other direct costs and proposed profit or fee rates.

e) Special Tooling or Test Equipment: When special tooling, and/or test equipment is proposed, attach a brief description of items and indicate if they are solely for the performance of this particular contract or project and if they are or are not already available in the offeror's existing facilities. Indicate quantities, unit prices, whether items are to be purchased or fabricated, whether items are of a severable nature and the basis of the price. These items may be included under Direct Material in the summary format.

f) Consultants: When consultants are proposed to be used in the performance of the contract, indicate the specific project or area in which such services are to be used. Identify each consultant, number of hours or days to be used and the consultant's rate per hour or day. State the basis of said rate and give your analysis of the acceptability of the consultant's rate.

g) Travel: Travel costs must be justified and related to the needs of the project. Identify the number of trips, the destination and purpose. Travel costs should be broken out by trip with number of travelers, airfare, per diem, lodging, etc.

h) Computer Use: Detail the amount and kind of computer usage, the cost, and how the costs were derived.

i) Facilities Capital Cost of Money: If Facilities Capital Cost of Money is proposed, a properly executed DD Form 1861 is required.

j) Project Funding Profile: Offerors should include a project funding profile by Government Fiscal Year (GFY) (1 Oct through 30 Sept)

FA8650-19-S-5004 - Page 18 of 22 for budgetary purposes. This will enable the Government to easily identify program funding needs by GFY.

k) If an offeror takes exceptions to the requirements called out in the announcement (e.g., base support, Government-furnished property (GFP), CDRLs), the exceptions should be clearly stated in the cost proposal.

l) Forward Pricing Rate Agreements: Offerors who have forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA’s) and forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

m) Cost/Business proposals have no page limitations.

e. Proposal Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date.

V. Proposal Review Information

1. Peer or Scientific Review Criteria: Proposals will be reviewed using the criteria listed below. Risk will be assessed as part of the below criteria.

The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be reviewed based on the following criteria that are of equal importance to each other.

a. Technical:

i. Unique and innovative approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives. New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art.

ii. The offeror’s understanding of the scope of the technical effort.

iii. Soundness of the offeror’s technical/management approach including the proposed Statement of Work (SOW), whether the proposal identifies major technical risks, clearly defines feasible mitigation efforts, and demonstrates related experience and qualifications of technical personnel.

iv. The potential to transition the research and development deliverables to future Government needs. Any proposed restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered.

v. Availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with the applicable technologies.

vi. Availability, from any source, of necessary research, test, laboratory, or shop facilities.

b. Cost/Price: The cost/price criterion includes the realism of the proposed cost. Cost/Price is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of priority. (If an offeror proposes the use of GFP other than any GFP identified in this BAA, and that proposed GFP provides

FA8650-19-S-5004 - Page 19 of 22 the offeror an unfair competitive advantage, then FAR 45.202 requires rental equivalent be applied to the Cost Factor for evaluation purposes only).

2. Review and Selection Process

a. Categories: Based on the Peer or Scientific Review, proposals will be categorized as Selectable or Not Selectable (see definitions below). The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on the Peer or Scientific Review, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability.

i. Selectable: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available.

ii. Not Selectable: Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded.

Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization.

b. No other criteria will be used.

c. Prior to award of a potentially successful offer, the Contracting Officer will make a determination regarding price reasonableness.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award as specified in each Call. (See Attachment 1 for Call

– 1).The notification is not to be construed to mean that any contract award is assured, as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: See Section I.5.

3. Reporting: Reporting will be as directed by the CDRLs (Block 10-

Frequency). Refer to Section I.3.a, CDRLs.

VII. Other Information

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1. Acquisition of Commercial Items: Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in this solicitation. However, interested offerors may identify to the Contracting Officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government’s requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice.

2. Support Contractors: Only Government employees will participate in Peer or Scientific Reviews. Offerors are advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government may be used to administratively process proposals, monitor contract performance, or perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractors' proprietary information. These support contracts include nondisclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any information submitted by other contractors or using such information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished.

3. Debriefings/Informal Feedback Sessions:

a. Contracts: If a debriefing is requested in accordance with the time guidelines set out in FAR 15.505 and 15.506, a debriefing will be provided, but the debriefing content may vary to be consistent with the procedures that govern BAAs (FAR 35.016).

b. Assistance Instruments: When requested, an informal feedback session will be provided.

4. Item Unique Identification and Valuation. It is DoD policy that contractors shall be required to identify the Government’s unit acquisition cost for all deliverable end items for which Item Unique Identification applies.

Therefore, proposals must clearly break out the unit acquisition cost for any deliverable items. See DFARS 211.274-3, Policy for Valuation, for more information. (Per DoD, “fully burdened unit costs” to the Government would include all direct, indirect, G&A costs, and an appropriate portion of fee). For more information, see the following website:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/uid/index.html.

5. Pre-Award Clearance: Pursuant to FAR 22.805, a preaward clearance must be obtained from the U.S. Department Of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Office Of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) prior to award of a contract (or subcontract) of $10,000,000 or more unless the contractor is listed in OFCCP’s National Preaward Registry https://ofccp.dol-esa.gov/preaward/pa_reg.html. Award may be delayed if you are not currently listed in the registry and the contracting officer must request a preaward clearance from the OFCCP.

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6. Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters: Any contract or assistance award that exceeds $550,000.00; and when offeror checked “has” in paragraph (b) of the provision FAR 52.209-7, shall contain the clause/article, FAR 52.209-9 “Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding responsibility Matters (JUL 2013).”

7. Proposal Reminders: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date.

a. Proposals are due to the Contracting POC.

b. Proposals are due no later than the due date and time specified in each applicable Call.

c. Proposal page limits are strictly enforced.

d. The Cost/Business Proposal must contain all information described in the

Content and Form of Proposal Submission Section.

e. Offerors other than small businesses must include a subcontracting plan.

f. Proposals must be submitted in the format specified.

g. Offerors who have Forward Pricing Rate Agreements (FPRA’s) or Forward

Pricing Rate Recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

h. If a DD254 is applicable, offerors must verify their Cognizant Security Office information is…